No tax increases in budget proposals

MONCKS CORNER — Berkeley County budget proposals don't include any fee or tax increases, but officials are trying to figure out what to cut to make the numbers work.

The plan for the water and sanitation department is pretty much set, although council's finance committee could make a few more tweaks before final approval. Rates are holding steady after a 30 percent rate increase last year.

Concerning the general county budget, council members said they were opposed to any tax increase at a workshop last month, and the numbers were headed in that direction.

Water & Sanitation Director Colin Martin said the new plan for his department also will give better customer service. For instance, a system for reading meters remotely from the main office should diminish complaints about irregular billing, he told council last month.

The new system should be in place in 12 to 15 months, Deputy Director of Operations Doug Tompkins said.

The change can't come soon enough for Clif Northum of Moncks Corner. He said he had to pay an extra $13.31 last year because meter readings varied anywhere from 19 to 41 days.

Delaying the readings past 30 days cost him more because extending the billing cycles sometimes put him into a higher rate category for using more water during that period, according to his calculations.

Customer Service Director Ed Rogers responded to Northum's complaint in a Sept. 9 letter.

"We try to keep our read cycles fairly consistent; however, as evidenced by the information you sent, this does not always hold true," he said.

The budgets normally end June 30, but council extended them until new budgets are approved.

The water and sanitation budget is up for final approval July 13, and the county budget is up for approval July 27.

Reach Dave Munday at dmunday@postandcourier.com or 937-5553.